Isabella
Say it: iz-a-BEL-a/ɪzəˈbɛlə/
GirlMeans usually explained as "my God is an oath"8 letters4 syllables
#48
in Ireland (2025)
99
babies in 2025
#41
best rank (2014)
2,731
babies since 1964
Down 2
10-year rank change
Isabella through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 99 | #48 |
| 2024 | 99 | #56 |
| 2023 | 118 | #46 |
| 2022 | 125 | #45 |
| 2021 | 106 | #56 |
| 2020 | 104 | #51 |
| 2019 | 114 | #52 |
| 2018 | 127 | #43 |
| 2017 | 130 | #48 |
| 2016 | 103 | #62 |
| 2015 | 135 | #46 |
| 2014 | 150 | #41 |
| 2013 | 149 | #44 |
| 2012 | 138 | #50 |
| 2011 | 154 | #51 |
| 2010 | 145 | #51 |
| 2009 | 105 | #70 |
| 2008 | 113 | #64 |
| 2007 | 92 | #72 |
| 2006 | 99 | #64 |
| 2005 | 62 | #93 |
| 2004 | 48 | #109 |
| 2003 | 31 | #143 |
| 2002 | 31 | #141 |
| 2001 | 14 | #238 |
| 2000 | 17 | #202 |
| 1999 | 16 | #211 |
| 1998 | 7 | #319 |
| 1997 | 7 | #363 |
| 1996 | 9 | #316 |
| 1995 | 3 | #516 |
| 1994 | 5 | #411 |
| 1993 | 3 | #516 |
| 1992 | 4 | #455 |
| 1988 | 4 | #442 |
| 1983 | 4 | #476 |
| 1980 | 5 | #432 |
| 1979 | 3 | #523 |
| 1978 | 7 | #362 |
| 1977 | 6 | #391 |
| 1976 | 3 | #497 |
| 1975 | 6 | #379 |
| 1973 | 11 | #292 |
| 1972 | 5 | #389 |
| 1966 | 7 | #276 |
| 1965 | 3 | #385 |
| 1964 | 5 | #300 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Isabella mean?
Usually explained as "my God is an oath"
Latin and Italian form of Isabel, a medieval Spanish form of Elizabeth.
Say it right
izaBELa
The story of Isabella
Isabella is the Latin and Italian form of Isabel, which grew up in medieval Spain and southern France as a form of Elizabeth. Elizabeth goes back to the Hebrew Elisheba, usually explained as my God is an oath.
Several medieval queens bore the name, among them Isabella of Castile, who backed Columbus’s voyage in 1492. It was popular in England in the nineteenth century and came back across the English-speaking world in the 2000s.
In Ireland a few girls were named Isabella in 1964, and it stayed rare until around 2000. It peaked in 2011 with 154 babies. Its best rank was number 41 in 2014. Its best in Northern Ireland was 27th in 2019.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Isabella (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Isabel (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Isabella (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
BellaIzzy
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Isabella | 99 | 2,731 |
In Northern Ireland
#30 in 2025 with 50 babies. Best rank #27 (2019); 1,198 babies since 1999.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.